A new ultraviolet disinfection technology uses microwaves to energize low-pressure, high-output bulbs for municipal or industrial water and wastewater disinfection. With electrodeless bulbs, there are no electrical connections to fail, corrode or leak. The bulbs light instantly, providing immediate disinfection, and lamps can be switched on and off to match flow.
Because if its design, bulbs in the MicroDynamics™ microwave UV system are cool to the touch. The sleeve that surrounds the lamp remains at the same temperature as the water flowing past. As a result, fouling is reduced and calcium and other deposits don’t cook onto the lamp, as is common with standard UV lamps.
Offered by Severn Trent Services, the MicroDynamics™ Series OCS 660 open channel system uses a modular 4-lamp design to meet varying flow rates and demands. It can provide wastewater disinfection to meet a variety of dose, log reduction and water quality requirements. The system has received Title 22 validation for water reuse applications.
The MicroDynamics systems are unique in that they use microwaves to energize low pressure high-output electrodeless lamps to maximize a UVC output at 254 nm. The absence of an electrode means that the lamp has no inherent failure mechanism, assuring long life. Additionally, no electrodes means the lamps do not exhibit fade over time, providing consistent and uniform UV disinfection over the life of the lamp.
The microwaves are contained by a waveguide that surrounds the lamps. Lamps light quickly providing full disinfection immediately and are unlimited in the amount of times they can be switched on and off.
MicroPace™ flow pace technology is used with the systems to match UV dose to operating conditions in real time. The pacing system enables the lamps to be turned down or off so the system maintains a constant dose and is only using the power needed to disinfect and meet site specific needs, ensuring the most efficient and effective use of the system design. The secondary benefit of MicroPace is conservation of energy, which reduces costs.
In the event of a power outage the systems will self-recover without detrimental effect or requirement for operator input. In fact, the electrodeless lamps can re-strike immediately in the event of a power outage since they do not require a cool down period and they are powered by a magnetron and not a traditional ballast power supply.
